Chapter 1: The Return of the Past

"Victoria, I need to talk to you. It's important."

The words echoed in my mind even after the phone call ended, leaving an unsettling chill in the pit of my stomach. I stared at my phone screen, the name "Elias Westbrook" flashing back at me in bold letters. It had been years since I last heard from him since everything crumbled. Since the day I was accused of embezzling millions from his company, my life as I knew it came to a brutal halt.

I turned the phone over, trying to ignore the inevitable pull in my chest. The pain of betrayal still lingered in the corners of my heart. He had shattered everything—my trust, my world, my future.

"Why now?" I muttered under my breath, gripping the edge of my desk as I pushed the phone further away from me. A sharp knock on the door broke my thoughts, and I quickly rose to open it.

It was Greg, my assistant. He was holding a crisp, white envelope. "This just arrived for you," he said, his voice neutral, but his eyes lingered on me a little too long. "Looks important."

I took the envelope from him, my fingers trembling as I noticed the return address—Westbrook Enterprises. A mixture of dread and disbelief washed over me. Could it really be? Could this be from him?

"Thank you," I managed, my voice sounding hollow even to my own ears. Greg nodded and turned to leave, but I stood frozen in place, staring at the letter. My heart raced in my chest as memories I had buried deep inside resurfaced. The life I had left behind, the life I swore I would never return to, was now at my doorstep once again.

With shaking hands, I carefully tore open the envelope. The paper inside was smooth, crisp, and far too formal. I scanned the words, my mind struggling to make sense of the letter’s contents.

---

Dear Victoria Lancaster,

We regret to inform you that recent developments have led us to discover important news regarding your relationship with Elias Westbrook. After much investigation, it has come to light that you are pregnant with his child. Elias, who has been in search of you for some time, wishes to make amends and rectify the wrongs that have been done. Please contact us at your earliest convenience to discuss the next steps.

Sincerely,

Westbrook Enterprises Legal Team

---

I blinked, rereading the letter. My hands shook so violently, that I almost dropped it. Pregnant?

The weight of the words pressed down on me, and for a long moment, I couldn’t breathe. I had left that life behind. I had rebuilt everything from scratch, far away from the opulent, suffocating world of Elias Westbrook. His betrayal had shattered me into a million pieces, and yet here I was, holding a letter that pulled me back into that world. The very world I had escaped from.

The baby. His child. My child. The words twisted in my mind like a knot, tightening with every passing second. I wanted to scream, to throw the letter across the room, but I couldn’t. My body was frozen, paralyzed by the weight of the news.

I turned back to the phone, the screen still glowing with his name. What did he want now? Was he trying to manipulate me again, just as he had before? Was this some cruel game, a last attempt to force me back into his life?

I exhaled slowly, my thoughts spinning out of control. I couldn’t afford to go back. I had worked too hard to build something for myself. I had a small business now, a life that was mine and mine alone. No more lies, no more manipulation, no more pain.

But then, the thought of the child—his child—sank deep into my heart. I couldn’t pretend it didn’t matter. This was a life that was tied to both of us.

I stood there for what felt like an eternity, torn between fear and uncertainty. Would it be better to ignore this? To leave the past buried where it belonged? Or was this fate, calling me back to confront the demons I had left behind?

The phone rang again, and I flinched at the sound. This time, I didn’t need to look to see who it was. Elias’s name was already flashing on the screen. My hand hovered over the phone, trembling as I fought with myself.

For a second, I considered letting it go to voicemail. I didn’t need to hear his voice, not after everything. But then, a part of me—some deep, irrational part—wanted to know why. Why now? Why after all these years? Why now, when I was starting to believe that I could finally live without him?

I pressed the answer button before I could second-guess myself.

"Victoria."

His voice. It was deep and authoritative, yet there was something softer in it, something that spoke of a man who had changed—or was trying to. "Elias," I breathed, the name slipping from my lips before I could stop it.

He paused for a moment like he wasn’t sure what to say. "I know you’re angry. You have every right to be. But I need to talk to you. Please, let me explain."

I closed my eyes, the weight of the years of pain crashing over me again. The accusations, the humiliation, the public disgrace—it all flooded back like a tidal wave, and I nearly choked on the rush of emotions.

"I don’t know what you think there is to explain," I managed to say, trying to keep my voice steady. "You made your decision years ago. You believed those lies, and I paid the price. I don’t owe you anything, Elias."

He let out a sharp breath, and I could hear the pain in his voice. "I know. God, I know. But this... what I’ve learned, what I’ve uncovered about everything that happened... it wasn’t you. I promise you that."

His words were like a balm to an old wound, and for a moment, I let myself hope. But I quickly shut that down. I couldn’t let him worm his way back into my heart. Not again. Not after everything.

"I don’t want your apologies, Elias," I said, my voice firm. "And I definitely don’t want your pity. I’ve moved on with my life. I have my own business now. I don’t need anything from you."

Another long silence stretched between us, and when he spoke again, his voice was low, almost pleading. "I’m not asking for your forgiveness. I just need to talk to you. I need to make this right, for both of us. And for the baby, Victoria."

The baby. His child. My child. The words twisted again, sinking deeper into my heart, and leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.

I was about to say something when the door to my office opened again, and Greg poked his head in. "Victoria? The delivery guy’s here with those supplies you ordered."

I gave a quick nod, trying to keep my composure. "I’ll be right out," I said, my voice betraying me with its slight tremor.

Elias seemed to notice. "Victoria, please... just let me explain. We can’t keep running from this. It’s time."

I felt my stomach twist. I wanted to hang up, to cut him out of my life for good. But part of me—part of me that I hated—was willing to listen, even if only for a moment.

I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could get the words out, the phone clicked. He had hung up.

I stared at the screen for a moment, my heart pounding in my chest.

What the hell had just happened?

And then, I heard it. The sound of my front door opening, and in the doorway stood none other than Elias himself, his tall figure framed by the door. His eyes locked onto mine, full of determination.

"Victoria," he said softly, his voice breaking through the chaos of my thoughts. "We need to talk."

I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move. "You... you can’t be here," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

But before I could say another word, he stepped inside.